The difference between other professionals and doctors are many. If you look at their professional bodies and MCI you will find that under the Advocates Act 1961 welfare of members registered in Bar Council is one of the objectives of the Act. Under Indian Medical Council Act and even the new NMC Bill welfare of the members is not the objective. This leads to lack of focus by those who do enter the apex body towards welfare of their members. In their minds they only have to regulate and punish. Bar council even pays money to advocates who can no longer practice or to family after death of an advocate.
Look at Press Council. I made a complaint against TOI and the first thing they asked me was to give an affidavit that I have not filed a case on same grounds before any other judicial or quasijudicial authority. IN MCI the patient who wants to make a complaint against a doctor is welcomed with open arms even if he has filed a consumer complaint, a criminal complaint or gone to Human Rights Commission in the same case.
Doctors also have a problem in following a leader ; any leader. I would have been happy to lead a group of industrial workers or safai karamcharis because doctors are too intelligent and too opinionated for their own good. There may be groups and politics in elections to Bar Association and Bar Council but once the President of Bar Association gives a strike call the court cannot run even though there may be advocates who are employees of the Government. They do not find it below their dignity to associate with “private” advocates.
IMA has funds to hold meetings of its executive members in South East Asia but does not have funds to fight for rights of doctors. We at MLAG were desperate for funds when we file a special leave petition in SC against a Allahabad HC judgment regarding right of doctors to protest. I contacted the HSG IMA HQs and was refused help. Even desperate messages on social media gets many suggestions on how to raise funds but only few pitch in with hard cash.
Despite the Chartered Accountants of Nirav Patel and Chowksi being accused of criminal misconduct you do not find “ethical” Chartered accountants denouncing them in Press. Compare this to the doctors who have written books on the unethical practices which happen in medical profession. If we need to change the situation we find ourselves in, we need to first change ourselves.
Dr Neeraj Nagpal
Convenor,Medicos Legal Action Group, Managing Director MLAG Indemnity,
Ex President IMA Chandigarh
Director Hope Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Clinic,
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